Difficult Exciting Important A Blue Print for the future Its more than

transportation and land use issues……

…….It’s about people

The Comprehensive Plan provides broad-level guidance on how St. James Parish will grow and develop into the future.

A Comprehensive Plan is: A guide for the management of

change A reflection of community values

and aspirations The foundation for policies,

strategies, and actions The community's to-do list A catalyst for community

consensus

An Overall Community Vision with long term Goals and Strategies to achieve the goals.

Plan for public infrastructure and facilities to handle population needs.

Protect and enhance the environment, historic structures and special places.

Maintain and expand the commercial and economic base.

Promote development of housing to meet community needs.

Addresses other specific needs as identified by the community.

Organize the Comp Planning

Effort Steering Committee

Meetings

Public Input Kick Off Meeting Focus Groups Meetings

The Next Step…

Draft a vision statement for the future

Formalize goals and objectives necessary to achieve the vision

Develop strategies and identify possible tools to use in accomplishing the goals

Determine which implementation tools are appropriate for St. James Parish

Use the Vision, Goals & Objectives and Strategies & Tools to … To craft a plan that includes all of the

required and appropriate elements.

Public Hearings – to present draft document for

comments

Steering Committee review and incorporate comments

Finalize Document

Present Comprehensive Plan Document to the Planning Commission and the Parish Council for Adoption

Initial Steering Committee Meeting

March

Steering Committee meets & organizes

April- May

Kick Off Meetings June Focus Group Meetings July -

SeptemberDraft Plan January Public Hearings February Revisions of Document March

Final Document to SC April- May

Delivery of Document to Planning Commission and Parish Council

June- July

This step sought citizen input on the existing trends, opportunities and constraints within the community.

The process identifies various issues, ideas, concepts and desires that form the framework for specific recommendations for the Comprehensive Plan.

Equity and access

Environmental, economic and social sustainability

Community connectedness and distinctiveness

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE,FACILITIES AND TRANSPORATION Where do we have or need sewerage,

drainage, transportation, water, etc.? Where and what kind of facilities and

services do we need to serve the present and future population? (public health clinics, public safety services, libraries, parks, educational, etc.

Facilitators Kevin Belanger Leo Marretta

HOUSING What is available and is it attainable for

ownership or rental? What is the quality and cost of housing?

Facilitator Alex Wesley-Smith

HUMAN SERVICES- What social services are available within the community? - Facilitators- Martha Cazaubon- Jo-anna Jones

COMMUNITY ASSETS What do we like about our community and

want to preserve? What do we want to change and improve?

Facilitators Jo-Anna Jones Mart Black

LAND USE Where and what kind of development is

here today and what is planned? Facilitators Mart Black Simonne Caesar

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT What is a healthy balance between

residential stability and economic development?

Facilitators Ivan Miestchovich Cullen Curole

First Meetings – E.B. July 26 – W.B. August 23rd

Identify Issues Assess Needs Begin the process of prioritizing Began to identify strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)

Second Meeting – E.B. August 9 – W.B. September 13

Analyze … Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Create Goals and List Objectives &

Strategies

Economic Diversity, Business Success & Equity

Education & Skill Development Arts, Culture & Innovation Social Sustainability Human Health & Public Policy Quality of Life & Civic Engagement Neighborhoods & Housing Transportation & Access

What does St. James Parish need to do to improve economic conditions?

1. Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy.

- Small business development service and training should be provided

2. Goods are produced in local plants and sent elsewhere for processing- St. James should seek manufactures that can process locally.

3. High unemployment within parish especially in black community

- GED training, trade school training should be improved/enhanced to lift the education and skill level of the unemployed.

Parish should prompt school district to adopt a dual degree option that would encourage industrial arts education in addition to the current college bound curriculum

4. Since workers have low education & skill levels……..

- Parish should recruit low tech manufacturers.

5. Given St James’ proximity between Baton Rouge and New Orleans….- Parish should recruit companies looking for warehouse and distribution locations.

6. Compare millages and sales tax levels to be to neighboring parishes to see if Parish could create competitive incentives for businesses to come to St James AND parish should more aggressively match state incentives with businesses looking to locate in St James.

1. Strong sense of community – still considered home

2. Vicinity of New Orleans (within 1 hour)

3. Rich history of 250 years-St. James historical Plantation homes (Laura, Oak Alley, Felicity, St. Joe, Poche’)

- Local businesses have to advertise in multiple markets- New Orleans and Baton Rouge growing toward each other—will meet at St. James- Possible New Orleans/Baton Rouge high speed rail stopover- Enhance parish’s day trip capacity—additional attractions

- Threats* Natural disasters

* Chemical plant/hazardous substance transport accidents

* Corporate mergers leading to layoffs* Poor education system

* Elephant in the room – disenchanted with local

politician – lack of civic participation.-Misconceptions

* Political officials must be at all

planning meetings

* Parish staff are residents too

1. Human Resource Department provide wide range of services for ages range 3 – 60.

2. Not enough recreational services for youth 16-24. Services are unequal.

3. Limited transportation4. Poor educational system - cause

for people moving out of parish4. False assumption that all

problems can be “fixed” by Social Services—dependency/entitlement mentality

4. Financial resources could be affected by budget cuts.

5. Difficulty in partnering with larger departments in either Baton Rouge of New Orleans.

6. Limited access to Mental Health services and more specialized Human Services needs of age group 19 to 45 years.

7. Emergency Transportation Services seem to have problems finding the correct location (address) in an emergency

1. Land held in private parcels or tracts is suitable only for agriculture or for sale to adjacent industry, due primarily because of the size and shape of the parcel.

2. Economically difficult to develop narrow tract for residential subdivisions. Such tracts either ended up in family partitions, or were eventually sold to adjacent industry.

3. Since industry usually paid top price for adjacent land, it is difficult for the land to be purchased for less by a developer.

4. This situation restrain housing development in flat market - affordable housing is seen as a pressing need.

5. Zoning will help avoid industrial – residential conflict, but concern about restrictions it will put on private landowners.

6. Encourage new industrial development to locate upriver of the Convent area (Manresa), on both sides of the river to the Ascension Parish line.

- Diminish industrial – residential conflict- Still preserve historic properties and traditional land uses (i.e. agriculture)

- Encourage residential development and higher densities in specific areas of the Parish, particularly along both sides to the river in a downriver direction.

- Encourage commercial and mixed use development in the LA 20 corridor between the river and South Vacherie.

- Identify major highway intersections that could be used as commercial nodes as well as convenient location for higher density development through mixed use development.

7. Needs assessment to determine quality of available housing stock and recommend strategies for development.

8. Develop a mix of adequate, abundant, and affordable housing types and facilities for seniors on both sides of the Mississippi River

9. Mixed used development to create town centers and villages developments on both sides of the Mississippi River

10.Develop culturally sensitive designs and housing developments suitable for St. James Parish environment.

11. Focus on development of multi-modal transportation infrastructure to promote connectivity of modes of transportation including port facilities, rail and freight compatible roadways

12. Improved mobility /connectivity especially for transit dependent households

13. Create regional recreational facilities which will draw from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge markets as well providing recreational opportunities for the residents of St James Parish.

14. Control pollution created by improper maintenance of individual sewer treatment plants.

Since the Parish founding in 1807, the citizens of St. James have overcome many challenges, created the character of the Parish, and ensured its

extraordinary role in our State’s history. During our stewardship of this

great Parish, we resolve to build on this heritage and add our mark on the Parish’s history. The Parish Council’s vision for St. James is:• To be a parish animated by a sense of its

unmatched, irreplaceable culture; • To be a parish characterized by the beauty of its

riverfront, the vibrancy of its communities, and its safe neighborhoods;

• To be a parish inspired by an active culture, and educational institutions;

• To be a parish shaped by civic involvement and economic vitality; and

 • To be the parish of choice for people of many

income levels, cultures, ethnicities, and physical abilities to live, work, and play.

“Good Planning” is planning that

meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own

needs.